How a Two-Decade War Ended Suddenly — and Why Everyone Was Shocked
Introduction: A Collapse Nobody Expected
In August 2021, Afghanistan fell faster than almost anyone believed possible. On August 15, Taliban fighters entered Kabul, and the Afghan government crumbled. President Ashraf Ghani fled. Two decades of U.S. involvement seemed to vanish in a matter of days. HISTORY+2CBS News+2
Many people call it “11 days” — the final span when the Taliban swept through province after province, and Afghanistan’s future spun out of control.
But the fall was no accident. It was the result of deep political failures, decades of dependency, and a peace deal that weakened the very state the U.S. built.
This is the story of how power shifted, why ordinary Afghans felt betrayed, and what made the country “fall in 11 days.”
1. The U.S.-Taliban Deal: A Fatal Promise
The collapse began before the U.S. even left.
In February 2020, the United States signed the Doha Agreement with the Taliban. Foreign Affairs The deal promised a full U.S. troop withdrawal in exchange for Taliban guarantees not to attack U.S. forces — but it didn’t include a strong role for the Afghan government. Foreign Affairs
That weakened the Afghan state. The Taliban even demanded the release of 5,000 prisoners, many of whom became key leaders again. Foreign Affairs
According to strategic analysts, this deal “shifted the balance of power toward the Taliban” and “created the conditions for the state’s collapse.” Foreign Affairs
2. Leadership and Corruption: A Fragile Government
The Afghan government was deeply flawed.
- Centralized Power: President Ashraf Ghani ran a very top-down government. Foreign Affairs
- Political Rivalries: Other leaders, like Abdullah Abdullah, challenged Ghani’s rule and even held a parallel inauguration. Foreign Affairs
- Corruption: Billions of dollars poured into Afghanistan over 20 years — but much of it was siphoned off. SIGAR (the U.S. watchdog) found deep corruption in the Afghan security forces. CBS News+2New English Review+2
According to a U.S. oversight report, part of the collapse was caused by the Afghan government’s failure to accept that the U.S. would actually leave, leaving them unprepared. Sigar
Simply put: when the world turned away, the foundation of Afghan governance was too weak to stand on its own.
3. The Withdrawal Signal: Collapse of Will to Fight
When the U.S. announced a full troop withdrawal under President Joe Biden, the message was clear — the international backstop was gone. CNBC+1
That signal spread quickly: many Afghan soldiers felt demoralized, believing that without U.S. support, they would not survive. CNBC
An expert quoted in a report said the fast speed of collapse was “a reflection of a collapse in will to fight.” CNBC
With their allies gone, Afghan forces melted away. Provincial capitals fell with little resistance — sometimes even without a shot fired.
4. Poor Planning and Sudden Exit
The way the U.S. left contributed to the chaos.
- Abrupt Bases Closure: The U.S. quietly abandoned Bagram Air Base — a major hub — without coordinating with Afghan allies. The Guardian
- Evacuation Missteps: Even as Taliban fighters approached Kabul, U.S. leadership was criticized by generals for not planning a proper evacuation. AP News
- Broken Institutions: The Afghan National Security Forces relied heavily on U.S. contractors for maintenance, air support, and logistics. When these contractors left, many Afghan units failed to operate. The American Conservative+2Sigar+2
The collapse was not sudden magic — it was a policy error playing out in real time.
5. Civilian Chaos and the Human Toll
Millions of ordinary Afghans paid the price for the political failures.
As Taliban forces advanced, Afghan civilians ran for their lives. Many raced to Kabul airport, trying to board evacuation flights. Journal of Democracy+1
When Ghani fled, it shattered any remaining hope in the government. Kabul fell without a fight. Journal of Democracy
Women and girls were especially fearful. The Taliban’s return raised urgent questions about rights, education, and safety under new rule. 8am
People who had worked with the U.S. — translators, civil society leaders — feared retribution. Many fled in panic or stayed, hoping to be safe.
6. Strategic Failure or Inevitable Exit?
Why did the collapse happen so fast? Experts point to multiple reasons:
- Strategic Error: According to the George C. Marshall Center, the mission’s goals became too broad. Building a stable democracy proved more difficult than anticipated. marshallcenter.org
- Legitimacy Crisis: According to the Journal of Democracy, the Afghan republic struggled to win true legitimacy. Journal of Democracy
- Long-Term Weakness: Years of dependency on Western money and support created a fragile system. New English Review
Critics argue that the U.S. never built a self-reliant Afghan nation. Instead, it built a dependent state that collapsed when its backers left.
7. Aftermath: What the Collapse Means for the Future
When Kabul fell:
- The Taliban claimed victory, declaring the end of the Islamic Republic. Journal of Democracy
- Thousands of Afghans tried to get on evacuation flights at the airport — a chaotic and tragic scene. HISTORY
- Internationally, the U.S. withdrawal sparked fierce debate. Some said it was overdue; others called it a policy failure. TIME
The legacy of those 11 days will be long:
- For Afghans, it’s a story of betrayal, grief, and uncertainty.
- For the U.S., it’s a reminder that nation-building is hard — and sometimes fragile.
- For the world, it’s a warning: military exit without political backing can lead to chaos.
Conclusion: A War That Ended Without Being Won
Afghanistan’s fall in August 2021 was more than a military defeat — it was a political collapse.
The Doha deal. Fragile governance. Deep-rooted corruption. A rapid exit. A terrified civilian population.
All of these pieces came together in a perfect storm.
The 11 days didn’t just end a war — they redefined what happened afterward.
And whether the world remembers this as a failure or an inevitable outcome, the human cost is real, and the lessons are urgent.
Citations
- Foreign Affairs, “Why Afghanistan Fell.” Foreign Affairs
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), Report on Collapse. Sigar
- George C. Marshall Center, “Strategic Failure in Afghanistan.” marshallcenter.org
- Al Jazeera, “US Withdrawal Prompted Collapse of Afghan Army.” Al Jazeera
- CNBC, “How Afghanistan Fell to the Taliban So Quickly.” CNBC
- Journal of Democracy, “The Collapse of Afghanistan.” Journal of Democracy
- New English Review, “11 Days That Shook the World.” New English Review
- History.com, “Kabul Falls to the Taliban After U.S. Withdrawal.” HISTORY
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